Matchday thread - Toon v Gunners

[UlversToon]

If it wasn't before that's game over.

[bodacious benny]

Embarrassing display.

[Sanchino]

Yeah onto the next one. Even at 2-0 felt like game over. Shows there's levels to being a title contender / CL regular (Pool, City, Arsenal) and then there's CL hopefuls (Villa, Spurs, Man United, us). We're nowhere near title contenders or CL regulars. We need to maintain a consistent level of getting into the top 6 then building our way into being top 4 regulars then title contenders.. this project is still a very, very long way to go. I say a good 5-10 years for us to consistently maintain European football / trying to challenge for a league title. Let's just be grateful that those BruceBall / Ashley days seem long gone.

[Colly]

I'm only watching at this point to see if my Ladbrokes fanzone "2 Gordon shots on target" comes in. God knows whether that one Raya saved was on.

[UlversToon]

Might as well bring Bruno off to avoid the yellow card.

[bodacious benny]

My only satisfaction is that Arsenal still won’t win the league.

[Colly]

Comeback on! BDB attacking threat!

[UlversToon]

Assist for Big Dan Burn, why didn't he start?

[bodacious benny]

That’s burn locked in for the next 4 years

[Don Sholeone]

Willock looking bright is the only positive to take from this. Once again we were abysmal.

[bodacious benny]

Willock looking bright is the only positive to take from this. Once again we were abysmal.

Karius looked fine too

[Colly]

I suppose we now know we've 3 good keepers...

[bodacious benny]

Dan Burn also staked him claim for left back

[Colly]

It'll be interesting to see the cup team on Tuesday, can see a little rotation since we've a little bit of a bench finally, but I do think it'll be a strong one with players trying to stake claims for the next league game.

[Timshorts 2]

Yeah onto the next one. Even at 2-0 felt like game over. Shows there's levels to being a title contender / CL regular (Pool, City, Arsenal) and then there's CL hopefuls (Villa, Spurs, Man United, us). We're nowhere near title contenders or CL regulars..

That's pretty much where I hoped that we'd be at this stage, though. Long gone are the days where a rich investor is allowed to donate money to a club so that they can compete at the top level too quickly. That's what ffp has done for the game, protect the big boys against any newcomer that suddenly has enough money to compete with them.

To be fair to arsenal, they have done it the right way, bringing in emerging talent and developing it without spunking a load on the best players (city), the most likely to sell loads of shirts (manu), or 3 expensive players at every position that you are s**** at (Scousers). If they didn't have legohead as a manager and weren't throwing themselves on the floor continually from minute 1, they would be almost likeable.

[bodacious benny]

Arsenal have bought well, but they have spent a lot of money. Only Chelsea and Man U have spent more in the past 5 years.

[UlversToon]

We are barely clinging onto top half, we have been absolute s**** and all I hear is excuses constantly. If Chelsea weren't playing in the cup there would have been a good chance we would have fell into the bottom half of the table this weekend.

Not beyond the realms of possibility, but if Wolves ,& West Ham win their games then we'll be in the bottom half come Monday evening. Wolves next weekend could be a big 6-pointer!

EDIT: My bad, we only drop to 10th should Wolves & West Ham win.

EDIT: As I edited first time Wolves took the lead, down to 9th.

[overseasTOON]

I opted to introduce MrsOT to The Producers instead.

After the movie and a few wines I spotted her dancing in the kitchen to Springtime for Hitler

[bodacious benny]

I think it’s clear we need a big refresh in summer and some of the hard working but limited players moved on to free up funds.

Almiron’s stats for a winger are back to being embarrassing after a purple patch the first half of last season and it’s time to move him on for someone who can contribute from the RW. Someone like Neto would be great (probably expensive), Adingra from Brighton looks a prospect.

Wilson as said in Jan has to be moved on while we can still get some money. He’s into his 30s so if we can sell him and get someone like Solanke it’s an absolute no brainer.

If Joelinton goes then a physical midfield presence is a must. Miley will be a good squad player next season but shouldn’t be considered a regular starter yet. Obviously we’ve also got Tonali to come back and Willock will make a difference too. Longstaff is playing like he knows he has no competition for his spot at the moment.

In defence we need a quick centre back and a left back. Lascelles can go if Burn becomes third choice CB.

[ALF]

Challenge for people.

Almiron has 6 assists in 170 PL games. Can you find another winger with a record that bad?